Aluminum Wheel Restoration.

I always love seeing a thread that has your name under it because I know it's going to be a good one!

This thread did not disappoint ;)

Seems like a ton of work went into the project though.
 
Great turnaround! One question, why did you use a sisal wheel with the white compound? The tripoli and the yellow stiff wheel did not do a good enough job cutting?

Agree with you about being black after polishing. Been that way many times over the years :)
 
If there's still marks and scratches left over than I would have started with the heavy cut wheel and the stainless rouge before getting into the primary cuts. I like Aluma-Kleen, it's Non toxic, Biodegradable, Non Aerosol, Ozone Safe.
Rims1_zpscbe5451c.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
Drivers are a PITA...two wheels mounted face-to-face...and all that it entails, flipped to a steer, then blinged.
Sisal/stainless bar will yield excellent results. But with products on hand, I would go back to one of the sanding steps.

@scrubs: RV wheel came out nicely :props:
 
ihaveacamaro said:
I always love seeing a thread that has your name under it because I know it's going to be a good one!

This thread did not disappoint ;)

Seems like a ton of work went into the project though.
Click to expand...

Thanks

Kevin Cullen said:
Great turnaround! One question, why did you use a sisal wheel with the white compound? The tripoli and the yellow stiff wheel did not do a good enough job cutting?

Agree with you about being black after polishing. Been that way many times over the years :)
Click to expand...

I mistyped that part, I used a spiral sewn wheel with the white, not a sisal. I use the blue and emery for the heavy cutting then yellow and tripoli.

scrubs147 said:
If there's still marks and scratches left over than I would have started with the heavy cut wheel and the stainless rouge before getting into the primary cuts. I like Aluma-Kleen, it's Non toxic, Biodegradable, Non Aerosol, Ozone Safe.
Click to expand...

After sanding I started with the heaviest cut, blue wheel with stainless rouge.

sproketser said:
It must take hours in order to have results like these !
Click to expand...

Takes a couple, but its not too bad. Like I said its more rewarding than doing car paint. Half of the cars I see done by other people look great to the trained eye, but to the untrained eye 5' away on a cloudy day its not much different with a lot of the newer clear coat vehicles. With a wheel like this even the blindest person 50' away on a cloudy rainy day can see a difference.

Vegas Transplant said:
Drivers are a PITA...two wheels mounted face-to-face...and all that it entails, flipped to a steer, then blinged.
Sisal/stainless bar will yield excellent results. But with products on hand, I would go back to one of the sanding steps.

@scrubs: RV wheel came out nicely :props:
Click to expand...

Add to that the fact they were also machine finish. The machine finish was not hard to remove, but there was very deep gouges from rocks and such that I just had to leave. The Blue wheel with stainless bar really cuts.

x2 that wheel does look nice.
 
Durallymax said:
Add to that the fact they were also machine finish. The machine finish was not hard to remove, but there was very deep gouges from rocks and such that I just had to leave. The Blue wheel with stainless bar really cuts.

x2 that wheel does look nice.
Click to expand...

No, there's no way you're going to get the deep gouges out - not even on a lathe. You would end up taking way too much material off. You would have to re-cut them with a die in which case, it would be better to make a yard planter out of them.

I agree with the outfit, this stuff is very unhealthy. From what you had to work with, you did an excellent job by breathing life back into them... I believe this is actually called the "Black Art" of detailing.

Durallymax, your rims look fabulous.
 
Kinda thought it may have been a misprint with the sisal wheel as that would have been working backwards. Again great job on the wheel. Nice to see a turnaround on a wheel that is in BAD shape.

Up here in Canada after the winter the only way to prep aluminum is to flash it with acid like the stuff you used as well. They are just too attached by calcium, gravel, sand, salt, rocks and whatever else they put on the roads.
 
Nice job on that wheel. Cool thread too. I want to learn more about polishing aluminum.
 
Kevin Cullen said:
Kinda thought it may have been a misprint with the sisal wheel as that would have been working backwards. Again great job on the wheel. Nice to see a turnaround on a wheel that is in BAD shape.

Up here in Canada after the winter the only way to prep aluminum is to flash it with acid like the stuff you used as well. They are just too attached by calcium, gravel, sand, salt, rocks and whatever else they put on the roads.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Wisconsin winters aren't too easy on things either. This winter I was on here looking at people detailing their cars in the sunshine
and claiming they were "filthy". Wonder how depresses theyd get up here. Work all summer to get it shined, let the winter ruin it and start all over again. Fortuneatley we haul our own milk so there is always an opportunity for the trucks and tankers to get washed.




tuscarora dave said:
Nice job on that wheel. Cool thread too. I want to learn more about polishing aluminum.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I like doing Aluminum, its not too hard to pick up and is a little more forgiving than paint, cant be afraid to get mean with it if needed. Takes a lot more energy and makes a bigger mess but has a better reward I think.

Now stainless I hear may be a little tricky and kick my butt. Ive got some areas on some of our milk tankers I'd like to touch up.
 
It is possible to polish stainless on a vehicle but not as easy as off.I have done it both ways.
 
57BORNTORUN said:
It is possible to polish stainless on a vehicle but not as easy as off.I have done it both ways.
Click to expand...

The majority of the stainless I'd be doing is all stainless tankers. The few little stainless pieces i'd do on the trucks I'd just remove.

We have a few of these for hauling our milk. All need some TLC in the looks department, mostly wheels and fenders to start with (only aluminum on them) the stainless looks okay, but theres some areas where previous owners scratched the bejeebus out of it removing decals.
 
Impressive, if indeed time consuming transformation there. Looks like it was all worth it in the end though.
 
Apparenty the picture did not post in my recent post regarding the stainless tanks.

 
Where do you get your polishing supplies? Do you have pictures of the wheels and rouge? I want to restore a set of 3-piece wheels to a mirror shine. I have a Flex rotary and got the Eastwood Wheel Smoothing and Buffing kit. I just haven't had time to take them apart.

Don
 
Busch Enterprises, Caswell Plating, Zephyr all have good online stores. Matchless metal looks like another nice place but they do not have a store and I have not dealt with them yet. Just placed my first order with Busch the other day, I had an oopsie (caught the cord with the buffer) and grenaded my safety flanges. Needed some more air ways too so I ordered a bunch of air ways from them and a safety flange kit.
 
I plan on going by their Statesville counter before I leave the Carolinas. Have to stop at MadVapes Charlotte. Might as well kill two birds with one stone.
 
Durallymax said:
Busch Enterprises, Caswell Plating, Zephyr all have good online stores. Matchless metal looks like another nice place but they do not have a store and I have not dealt with them yet. Just placed my first order with Busch the other day, I had an oopsie (caught the cord with the buffer) and grenaded my safety flanges. Needed some more air ways too so I ordered a bunch of air ways from them and a safety flange kit.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah: Definitely watch that cord... I ended up patching my cord back together. Dangerous territory.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top